Job Discussion Forums

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

I have been to Guadalajara 4 times and lived with a girl from Guadalajara for 2 years. I speak excellent Spanish. I am 32 years old and have worked the last 9 years at a cubicle job but now I have enough get about $1000-$1100 a month off investments and am looking to possibly move to Mexico and thought about teaching to supplement my income. I just wanted to know how everyones teaching experiences were down there. I am just tired of the 9-5 grind and looking for a new adventure.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

You can find a 9-5 grind there too in teaching...actually, more like a 7-9 and 2-9 split shift grind. If you don't really need the income, you should consider private tutoring. Make your own schedule.

Guadalajara and environs is a haven for American expats, so you might find some competition for those private classes.

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

Gotcha, I wasn't looking at Guadalajara per say. Anywhere in Mexico is good. Thanks for the feed back

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

Those shifts sound insane and I know how much the teachers make down there and to be honest maybe I should stick with what I know. There are plenty of jobs in my industry in Costa Rica working for American and Canadian companies. Maybe the cubicle thing isn't so bad after all compared to working 50 hours a week teaching. Thanks again for the info. It will make me think twice.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I posted the worst case scenario...the opportunities to teach English in both Mexico and Costa Rica are quite varied, from full time work in primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools, to tutoring, to business English classes at companies, and even into translations and writing.

You're in an enviable position having income from investments, which will more than cover your living expenses in either country. You can choose your own fate here.

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

Thanks, I do have a lot of contacts in Costa Rica in the real estate, investment and sports book industry that I have known for several years and they have offered me jobs down there. These are good guys and I know they pay reasonably well. Maybe I can try the teaching thing part time and see if I really like it while I settle in and see where it goes from there. The one problem with Mexico is there are not a ton of jobs for Americans there other then teaching english unless you work in IT or accounting. I do love Mexico and the people are wonderful so it is a coin toss.

john_n_carolina · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: n. carolina

...don't know much about Mexico, but isn't Monterrey also a good city, if you're looking for "tech-type" jobs??

yes, the 7-9, 2-9PM split shift grind is pretty common in all of L.America. add in a couple hours correcting diaries, grading essays, and preparing for the next day, and you'll easily work 60-70 hours a week.

** one thing, if you are coming as a newbie to L.America, bring tons of material, books etc, games, karaoke CD's, and probably a laptop with pronunciation exercises, etc...

take care --

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

Monterrey is an awesome beautiful city. I was there once before but only for a few days but yes it is supposed to be booming.I have many friends from Monterrey up in Detroit and yes it is good for tech jobs but I am more in the sales/call center industry which Costa Rica has Lots of. Some parts of Mexico have fairly decent real estate sales gigs but other then teaching, accounting or IT and some engineering like I said there is not a lot for Americans or Canadians.

john_n_carolina · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: n. carolina

...if you're looking in the call center /sales area...also check out Chile and northern Argentina....(not Buenos Aires, it's too expensive)

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

Thanks yes I have friend who lived in Chile and loved it. They have a booming economy right now and I have checked out some of the apartments. They are fairly reasonable.

john_n_carolina · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 700 Location: n. carolina

...i.m.o, don't go to a call center in Santiago though....you're fluent in Spanish, and in Spanish we say, "Santiasco!".....

it's fairly damaging to your health to live there...with sulfur indices 20 times NY...

look more up north in Antofagasta / Concepcion area....

Concepcion is a beautiful city....